Charlemagne

King of the Franks and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire

742 - 814 • “Father of Europe”

Reading Focus

• How did Charlemagne and the Carolingians build the Frankish empire?

• How did Charlemagne’s actions contribute to shaping a new society?

Main Idea

Through conquest and social change, Charlemagne tied much of western Europe together in a single empire.

Charlemagne’s Empire

By the Sword and the Cross• Charlemagne (Charles

the Great) was born on April 2, 742, in Northern Europe. "By the sword and the cross," he became master of Western Europe. Through his enlightened leadership the roots of learning and order were restored to Medieval Europe

Powerful Kingdom

• Crowning of Charlemagne a surprise, but not random decision

• His predecessors, the kings of the Franks, worked for 200 years to make kingdom most powerful in Europe

Early Carolingians

• One of first Carolingians to gain power, Charlemagne’s grandfather

• Charles Martel, political adviser, war leader for Frankish king

• Led Frankish army in many crushing defeats of opponents, notably Muslims

Frankish Empire

• By 800s Franks ruled much of western, central Europe

• Leaders most influential in expansion of Franks all belonged to one family—Charlemagne’s family, the Carolingians

Building an Empire

Charlemagne’s Rise to Power• Charlemagne, Old French for Charles the Great

• Name proved accurate, Charlemagne a great leader

• Historically considered one of most important leaders in European history

• Foundation of success, his military power

Pippin• Charles’s son, Pippin III, also skilled leader; won many battles,

captured new lands for Franks

• Became first king of Carolingian dynasty, 751

• Upon death, 768, Pippin passed kingdom to son, ruler known today as Charlemagne

Europe in Turmoil• In 768, when Charlemagne was 26, he and his brother

Carloman inherited the kingdom of the Franks. In 771 Carloman died, and Charlemagne became sole ruler of the kingdom. – At that time the Franks were falling back into barbarian ways,

neglecting their education and religion. – The Saxons of northern Europe

were still pagans. – In the south, the Roman Catholic

church was asserting its power torecover land confiscated by theLombard kingdom of Italy. Europe was in turmoil.

•Charlemagne wanted to expand his country more to the east and to the west.

•During the time he ruled, his kingdom was usually in war; he waged more than 50 military campaigns.

• Charlemagne conquered about six countries in modern day Europe. He ruled for 47 years and died at the age of 72

• Charlemagne men were always to be ready for war .they had to fight with whatever weapon they owned.

• Such weapons were spears bows and arrows and swords for those who had them.

• Recognized Charlemagne’s skill, called on him for help when Lombards attacked Papal States, 774

• Papal states, region in central Italy under control of pope

• Franks defeated Lombards; Charlemagne became king of Lombards as well as Franks

Pope Leo III

• Assembled army each year, led into battle against a foe

• Incorporated land of vanquished foe into his sphere of influence, formed alliances with local rulers

• In this way Charlemagne increased size and power of Carolingian kingdom

Increased Kingdom

Military Power

Charlemagne Brings Order to Europe• Charlemagne was determined to

strengthen his realm and to bring order to Europe. In 772 he launched a 30-year military campaign to accomplish this objective. By 800 Charlemagne was the undisputed ruler of Western Europe. – France, Switzerland, Belgium, and The

Netherlands, half of present-day Italy and Germany, and parts of Austria and Spain.

• By establishing a central government over Western Europe, Charlemagne restored much of the unity of the old Roman Empire and paved the way for the development of modern Europe.

• Pope Leo III thanked Charlemagne by naming him emperor of Roman people

• Title implied Charlemagne had restored glory of Roman Empire in Europe

• Pope’s action suggested that Charlemagne’s rule had backing of church, God

A Pope’s Thanks

• Pope Leo III grateful for Charlemagne’s help against Lombards

• 799, called on Charlemagne again when angry supporters of previous pope ran Leo out of Rome

• Charlemagne had Leo escorted back to Rome, restored to power

Another Cry for Help

Helping the Pope

Pope Leo III

• Came from humble beginnings (poor)

• Was a good servant to God, the church

• Picked to be Pope• Many in the Church

didn’t like the choice

• Accused him of Adultery

Pope Leo III

• Nobles attacked him• Tried to Cut out his

Tongue and Eyes• Escaped, Deposed

to a Monastery• Escaped again, Met

Charlemagne• Escorted back to

Rome

Charlemagne’s Coronation

• On Christmas Day in 800, while Charlemagne knelt in prayer in Saint Peter's in Rome, Pope Leo III placed a golden crown on the bowed head of the king. Charlemagne is said to have been surprised by the coronation, declaring that he would not have come into the church had he known the pope's plan. However, some historians say the pope would not have dared to act without Charlemagne's knowledge.

Powerful

• Charlemagne had tremendous power as emperor

• Empire large, not easy to rule; changes made government efficient, effective

• Established permanent capital at Aachen, in what is now Germany

Oversight

• Inspectors kept tabs on Charlemagne’s counts

• Rewarded counts who did jobs well, punished those who did not

• Inspectors helped ensure counts remained loyal, empire was well run

Delegating Authority

• Built huge palace, cathedral to reflect own greatness

• Chose counts, officials to help rule parts of empire in his name

• Counts bound to obey, granted large tracts of land, given much authority

Charlemagne’s Rule

Summarize

How did Charlemagne turn his kingdom into an empire?

Answer(s): strong warrior; restored the pope to power; provided stability and order; barons helped him rule

Although Charlemagne is known mostly as a warrior and a political leader, he also made sweeping changes to Frankish society.

• Charlemagne personally interested in learning, spent much time studying

• Wanted leaders in empire to be able to read, write

• Ordered churches, monasteries to start schools

• Students learned:– Religion – Music– Grammar

Education• Noted European scholars

invited by Charlemagne to Aachen

• Spent time teaching, as well as studying, copying ancient texts

• Sent copies of texts to monasteries across Europe; monks there made copies

• Saved many valuable works for posterity

Scholars

A New Society

• In addition to improving education, Charlemagne wanted to preserve, spread Christian teachings

• Worked closely with church to create unified Christian empire• Used force to accomplish, ordered those he conquered to convert to

Christianity under penalty of death• Sent monks to live among conquered to help Christianity take root

• Honored traditional laws of tribes brought under his rule

• Most laws existed only in oral tradition

• Had many tribal laws recorded

• Allowed tribal legal codes to maintain separate existence

Law• Western Europe reached great

heights under Charlemagne

• Empire did not survive long after death in 814

• Civil war wracked kingdom, grandsons divided empire

• Empire weak, invaders poured in

Great Heights

Religion

Find the Main Idea

How did Charlemagne change society in his empire?

Answer(s): built an education system, preserved ancient writings, expanded religion, developed single law code

Carolinian Renaissance• Charlemagne learned to read

Latin and some Greek but apparently did not master writing. At meals, instead of having jesters perform, he listened to visiting scholars read from learned works.

Carolinian Renaissance

– Charlemagne believed that government should be for the benefit of the governed.

– He was a tireless reformer who tried to improve his people's lives.

– He set up money standards to encourage commerce, urged better farming methods and worked to spread education and Christianity.

Book Work…Yeah!! Pages 192 - 195

– When did Charlemagne die? What happened to the Carolingian Empire afterwards?

– In the 9th and 10th centuries, who invaded “France”? What kind of things did they do?

– Explain what happened to these invaders in 911.– What is Feudalism and why did this order form?– Draw the Feudal “pyramid” and explain what each

level offers.– Explain the Feudal contract. What responsibilities

did this give each member of the contract?– How did the idea of Chivalry begin? In your

opinion, should chivalry exist today? Why or why not?